The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-09-25
Government Railroads.

Government Railroads.
1t Ia reported on good authority that Mr.
PowpERLY has resolved TO declare himself
In favor Of Government ownership OF the
railroads. This is not quite 30 bad as II tho
President had announced his wish to take
possession Of the railroads, and such dec
laratlon, In turn, would be less significant
than national election at which party
favoring the scheme Of Government rail-
roads should be successful.
The idea Of the Government OF the United
States or OF the States separately, engaging
In the transportation Of freight and passen-
gers, however extravaganza, undoubtedly has
q large number Of persons In It's favor, who,
before declaring themselves, only await the
moment whom the scheme has the sanction
OF powerful party. They might
not In the beginning be willing to
advocate Government ownership OF the
rolling stock, but would favor only
the acquisition of the right Of way, the
tracks, and tho stations. This latter scheme,
making the entire business Of the country,
80 far as it Ii involved with transportation,
subservient to politics, would be thought
sufficient for the time; and 1t would be only
an enlargement Of the plan contemplated In
the creation of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. But the mon who would ad-
vocate this much, would be ready to go the
whole hog as fast as they thought the whole
hog could be digested.
To what do we owe the railway system Of
the United States2 Primarily to individual
enterprise seconded by local influences look
ing to the improvement Of the country. OF
oil tho railroads In the Union not one mile In
ten was built with any hope Of immediate
profit from tho service Of transportation.
The roads were built to enhance the value Of
the lands, to make markets accessible, to
reach desirable mining regions, and to
open new territory to settlement. In
many instances the worry farmers along
the projected routes were tho pro-
moters. They were willing to take stock
enough to prepare the roadbed, other CAPT.
talists merely supplementing their enter
prise by laying the tracks and supplying the
rolling stock. But the farmers themselves
expected no direct or immediate profit from
their investment. They needed none. in
deed, to justify their venture, for their re-
ward was to come from quite other sources.
The roads became only part OF their gen.
eral system Of local improvement, o system
comprehending also improved public high
ways and tho improvement Of their private
property. Their farms were doubled in value
by their enterprise and the owners were en-
abled to market their products at great re-
duotion in cost and to carry on all their
agricultural operations ct an enhanced
profit. Population followed and villages
sprung up In their neighborhood.
Now. forgetting that we have Constitu-
ton which makes such thing impossible,
let US suppose tho Federal Government to
be In possession Of tho railroads and charged
with the construction Of all the now roads
made necessary by tho natural progress Of
the country. We are building for the cur
rent year, 1t Is said, about $4,000 miles Of
new road, and tho cost will DO not far from
$500, zoo, 0OO With political rings In the field,
and douple set Of political contractors
keeping the accounts, we might perhaps
with Justice, double this amount in esti-
mating the cost of the increased mileage to
the Federal Government
But would the people of New York consent
to be taxed for tho construction Of railroads
In Kansas? Not to any great extent. 1t will
be seen at once. then, that 1t would not do for
the wild West to trust It's railroad interests
to Congress.
But would the people Of the newer sections
Of the country fare any better were their
railroads placed In the hands of their own
State Governments? Would farmer nv-
ing twenty miles from a projected railroad
consent to be taxed for the construction Of
road that would benefit directly only the
farmers living along It's liner II he would
give his consent, he must be very different
sort Of farmer from the kind who inhabit
the southern tier counties of New York. Had
the Erie Canal been the property Of a COM
pany, 1t would have been made ship canal
more than quarter of century ago. The
owners would not have rested after the con-
struction Of the Central Railroad until It had
been made fit rival for its new competitor.
Look at this subject in any light, and 1t will
be seen that railway building in large way,
can only be carried forward by private COM
panies stimulated by personal and local In
terests.
It would. perhaps, be unreasonable to ex-
pect much popular knowledge Of political
economy. 1t Is dry, statistical subject, and
many of its facts. unfortunately, are the
most unpopular facts in the world. But 1t Is
not unreasonable to expect little popular
common sense. The only serious mistake
made by tho trainers OF our Constitution was
in permitting the Federal Government to
control even tho mails. We might or we
might not have q cheaper mall service were
letters carried by private companies working
In cooperation with the railroads; but we
should certainly have much swifter service.
Were the mails carried by postal companies,
1t would not take two or three days to get Q
letter from New York to Chicago. 1t would
more likely have been long since shot through
a pneumatic tube, o postal pipe line. with
such expedition that an answer could be re-
ceived on the day Of mailing.
The notion Of Government railroad is
crazy idea from the view of political econ
omy; and is only worth discussing be-
cause it offers an opportunity to give
tyros some conception of first principles. II